School pupils strike over teachers' sexual advances

Soweto
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Pupils at a high school in Roosenekal, Limpopo province, have been on strike since January 18, saying their allegations over teachers demanding sex have failed to be investigated.

Turning up late and bunking classes is more usually something associated with school children rather than their teachers. In one Soweto school the tables have been turned as pupils accuse the teachers of failing to do their work. Even worse the teachers are accused of demanding sex from the female pupils on school premises.

Sowetan Live reported that pupils at Mahlontebe High School in Roosenekal, Limpopo, have been on strike January 18. They allege that they are failing their studies due to the a lack of interest in their education by teachers that routinely fail pupils who do not give in to their sexual advances. According to Times Live the pupils said "they had reported the teachers' conduct to the school's principal but he had failed to act."

Pupil's who have spoken out cannot be named as they fear victimization, but have the support of their parents in the strike action. One pupil said "We cannot fold our arms when teachers whom we regard as our parents, want to bed us in exchange for a pass at the end of the year." Another pupil said "Most of us failed at the end of the year simply because teachers were not doing their work. Most of them come late to school, while others do not report for classes at all." Following the failure of the school principal to act on the allegations one student said "so we embarked on a class boycott because these teachers do not seem to listen to anyone, including their bosses both at school and beyond the school premises." The Education Department has now said it will investigate.

Teachers were also blamed for failing to prevent a spate of sexual assaults at another South African school in October.